RE-Fresh: Nike Penetrator (1984)

In order to properly contextualize these models, it’s important to trace the on-court genesis of these sneakers as well as their cultural impacts, and in 1984, hip-hop was gaining steam as the cultural phenomenon in New York city and beond. B-boys and graffiti artists were in the vanguard of urban style, and they were increasingly rocking the adidas Superstar with a bold rubber toe. Nike wasn’t slow to respond, as the Blazer also offered a sleek toebox with no perforations or stitches, as did the All Court in 1975, which is probably the closest sibling the Penetrator.